Empire 'Garde à vous' mantel clock by Claude-François Rabiat and Lesieur
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
circa 1809–1810
This French First Empire mantel clock, known as 'Garde à vous' or 'Le Silence', is executed in chased and mercury-gilded bronze mounted on a vert de mer marble plinth.
The case design is dominated by a sculpted figure of Cupid resting beside the architectural clock housing, raising his index finger to his lips while holding an arrow with a bow and quiver beside him. The white enamel dial features Roman numerals and dual winding apertures, signed for Parisian clockmaker Lesieur, while the bronzes bear the stamp of founder Claude-François Rabiat on the reverse. Source reports the movement incorporates a knife-edge suspension.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Technical characteristics
- Type
- Mantel clock
- Width
- 39 cm
- Height
- 46 cm
- Bronzier Mark
- Claude-François Rabiat twice on the reverse
- Place recorded
- France
- Suspension Type
- Knife-edge suspension
- Maker / attribution
- Claude-François Rabiat (bronzier) and Lesieur (horloger)
- Clockmaker Signature
- Lesieur à Paris
Design
- Visible features
- • A sculpted gilt bronze winged Cupid sits adjacent to the clock movement case, resting his right index finger on his lips and holding an arrow aloft in his left hand. • The white enamel dial features black Roman hour numerals, two winding apertures, and dark Breguet-style hands, signed 'Lesieur à Paris' beneath the arbor. • The frieze of the gilt bronze terrace depicts two winged griffins flanking a classical lyre. • The dark green veined marble base is supported on four gilt bronze winged claw feet. • Above the dial, the motto shows missing applied letters, reading 'GARE À VOU'.
- Dial and Mechanism
- The white enamel dial displays Roman numeral hour markers and is signed 'Lesieur à Paris' below the central arbor. The movement is fitted with a knife-edge suspension. The motto banner located above the dial is missing two applied letters, resulting in the current inscription reading 'GARE À VOU' instead of 'GARDE À VOUS'.
- Maker Attributions
- The bronzes are signed 'Claude-François Rabiat' twice on the reverse, identifying the founder involved in the casting and chasing of the metalwork. The movement is signed by the clockmaker Lesieur. The clock features mercury-gilded bronze surfaces and is decorated on all sides, a design choice noted as being less common than on clocks intended solely for frontal display.
- Composition and Iconography
- This Empire-period mantel clock features a sculptural figure of Cupid seated beside an architectural clock housing. The figure is depicted gesturing for silence by raising an index finger to his lips, accompanied by a bow, arrow, and quiver. The clock housing is mounted on a vert de mer marble plinth, which is supported by four gilt bronze winged claw feet. The front terrace is decorated with a frieze of two winged griffins flanking a central lyre.
Identification
- Reference
- 1806708
- Source note
- Facts transcribed from the linked source listing or collection record. Attribution and specifications are source-reported and have not been independently authenticated.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: The movement interior and reverse stamps by Rabiat are not visible in the provided primary front photograph.
- Research required: Two applied metal letters are missing from the motto banner above the dial.